Silver Ghost
Member
- Joined
- Apr 17, 2013
- Messages
- 70
Is a 1/16 to 1/8 gap between converter and flexplate too tight? The flexplate is a JW, the converter is a 9.5 PTC, the converter mounting pads are 1 inch from the trans face. Thanks.
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SignUp Now!The only flex plate that I know of that is known to cause this problem is the JW flex plate. Even though this has been a problem,they continue to sell them and people continue to buy them. The most common damage will be that the converter snout will drive the transmission pump rotor into the back wall of the pump cavity. It will destroy the rotor and Back half of the pump body which will crack and loosen the stator support. The cause is the thickness of the flexplate. The solution is a different flex plate. The other problem that the thick JW flex plate has is that it is not flexible because of it's extra thickness. Many people in the turbo Buick community,including me,object to this. Another way to solve the problem would be to install washers between the bell housing and engine block. I would measure their thickness with calipers to make sure you have washers of equal thickness.Is a 1/16 to 1/8 gap between converter and flexplate too tight? The flexplate is a JW, the converter is a 9.5 PTC, the converter mounting pads are 1 inch from the trans face. Thanks.
If you use washers between the converter and flywheel,you're moving the converter closer to the back wall of the pump. I would remove the washers to maintain the greatest amount of clearance especially since,as Silver Ghost correctly stated, the JW plate is flat. With the stock and other plates,the plate is conical shaped and not flat so you want to use some washers so the body of the converter doesn't rub up against the plate and force the plate to move toward a flat position as you tighten the bolts. In that case,you have room for washers because of the thinner plate. Because of the pressure inside the converter,it is always trying to move forward away from the pump which keeps the crankshaft forward up against the thrust bearing as it is supposed to be. It's interesting that this problem never takes out the thrust bearing but ruins the pump.Wow TType I have a JW flexplate as well Over the years ive broken 2 rotors. I assumed i didn't have the correct washers in , the first time i used no washers. 2nd time i did ,,years ago. Then I put a billet rotor in,, haven't broken another but I just pulled a pump & had Mikestertwo check it out said it was scored bad & the rotor was no good...But like you said now I wonder if the flexplate could be the culprit.. I have mine pretty close to 3/16 gap now with very thin washers on the PTC converter pads. Maybe I'll be o.k tho it drives fine so far as I've gotten on it many times.. But I never considered the flex plate. I'll keep an eye out on that. THX for that.
The only flex plate that I know of that is known to cause this problem is the JW flex plate. Even though this has been a problem,they continue to sell them and people continue to buy them. The most common damage will be that the converter snout will drive the transmission pump rotor into the back wall of the pump cavity. It will destroy the rotor and Back half of the pump body which will crack and loosen the stator support. The cause is the thickness of the flexplate. The solution is a different flex plate. The other problem that the thick JW flex plate has is that it is not flexible because of it's extra thickness. Many people in the turbo Buick community,including me,object to this. Another way to solve the problem would be to install washers between the bell housing and engine block. I would measure their thickness with calipers to make sure you have washers of equal thickness.
I've written this to make you aware of this problem,but if you have 1/8" clearance between the flex plate and converter when the converter is pushed all the way into the trans pump, you will be Okay. The problems I've seen were situations where there was no clearance and people put them together anyway.
As long as you have enough clearance,nothing will be harmed and you'll be fine.I don't have any problems changing it out if it is not a good piece